Sydney’s most polluted beaches revealed after week of rain

Swimmers keen to hit the beach after a week of gloomy weather are being warned to stay away from almost half of the city’s swimming spots.

Pollution warnings are in place for almost half of Sydney’s popular beaches, with people being advised not to swim in affected waters after a week of heavy rain.

Stormwater and rain run-off can cause bad pollution ratings, with scientists urging swimmers to stay out of the water at 73 of 160 swimming spots across the city on Wednesday.

Oceans often fill up with stormwater pollution following heavy rainfall, which often occurs during storms.

Sydney beaches on alert on Wednesday include North Narrabeen, North Curl Curl, Bondi, Tamarama, Bronte and Coogee, according to the Beach Watch website.

Pollution warnings are in place for almost half of Sydney’s popular beaches. Picture: Damian Shaw

“Sydney Water has advised of a sewage overflow nearby on 07 February 2022 which may affect this site,” the warning reads.

“As a precaution, swimming should be avoided due to the possibility of pollution.”

Earth Watch Institute chief scientist Scott Wilson said swimmers often became infected from the harmful bacteria in the ocean.

“It’s all microbial, it’s all microscopic, so you can’t really tell necessarily,” Dr Wilson told 9 News.

Usually, a safe amount of bacteria in beaches is just 40 enterococci per 100ml.

But on Wednesday there is predicted to be up to 10,000 enterococci per 100ml in hotspots, meaning swimmers face a higher risk of falling ill.

Stormwater and rain run-off can cause bad pollution ratings. Picture: Damian Shaw

Earlier in the year some of Sydney’s popular beaches recorded levels of up to 40,000 per 100ml of the harmful pathogens.

Tamarama recorded 39,000 enterococci per 100ml in the first week of January.

“We tend to find that our estuarine harbour beaches tend to have more pollution than those on our open coast,” Dr Wilson said.

All beaches are tested for levels of enterococci following days of rain, and Dr Wilson is warning swimmers to stay away from the water.

“The warning usually is three days after rain, I wouldn’t be swimming before that,” Dr Wilson said.

Beaches with pollution warnings on Wednesday, according to Beach Watch:

• Birdwood Park (Narrabeen Lagoon) - pollution is likely, avoid swimming
• North Narrabeen - pollution is possible, take care
• North Curl Curl - pollution is possible, take care
• Queenscliff Beach - pollution is possible, take care
• Bondi Beach - pollution is possible, take care
• Tamarama Beach - pollution is possible, take care
• Bronte Beach - pollution is likely, avoid swimming
• Coogee Beach - pollution is possible, take care
• Malabar Beach - pollution is likely, avoid swimming
• Little Bay Beach - pollution is likely, avoid swimming
• Boat Harbour - pollution is possible, take care
• Barrenjoey Beach - pollution is possible, take care
• Bayview Baths - pollution is possible, take care
• Parsley Bay - pollution is possible, take care
• Rose Bay Beach - pollution is likely, avoid swimming
• Murray Rose Pool - pollution is possible, take care
• Hayes Street Beach - pollution is likely, avoid swimming
• Clifton Gardens - pollution is possible, take care
• Balmoral Baths - pollution is possible, take care
• Edwards Beach - pollution is possible, take care
• Chinamans Beach - pollution is possible, take care
• Northbridge Baths - pollution is likely, avoid swimming
• Davidson Reserve - pollution is likely, avoid swimming
• Gurney Crescent Baths - pollution is likely, avoid swimming
• Clontarf Pool - pollution is likely, avoid swimming
• Forty Baskets Pool - pollution is possible, take care
• Cabarita Beach - pollution is possible, take care
• Dawn Fraser Pool - pollution is possible, take care
• Chiswick Baths - pollution is possible, take care
• Woolwich Baths - pollution is likely, avoid swimming
• Tambourine Bay - pollution is likely, avoid swimming
• Woodford Bay - pollution is likely, avoid swimming
• Greenwich Baths - pollution is possible, take care
• Monterey Baths - pollution is possible, take care
• Silver Beach - pollution is possible, take care
• Sandringham Baths - pollution is possible, take care
• Dolls Point Baths - pollution is possible, take care
• Ramsgate Baths - pollution is likely, avoid swimming
• Brighton Le Sands Baths - pollution is likely, avoid swimming
• Kyeemagh Baths - pollution is likely, avoid swimming
• Foreshores Beach - pollution is likely, avoid swimming
• Yarra Bay - pollution is likely, avoid swimming
• Frenchmans Bay - pollution is likely, avoid swimming
• Congwong Bay - pollution is possible, take care
• Como Baths - pollution is possible, take care
• Jew Fish Bay Baths - pollution is likely, avoid swimming
• Oatley Bay Baths - pollution is likely, avoid swimming
• Carss Point Baths - pollution is likely, avoid swimming
• Horderns Beach - pollution is likely, avoid swimming
• Gymea Bay Baths - pollution is possible, take care
• Gunnamatta Bay Baths - pollution is possible, take care